Stewart Downing says a departure from Liverpool remains likely but has not ruled out remaining at Anfield beyond January and the end of the season.

Downing , 28, was signed from Aston Villa in 2011 for a fee of around £20 million but has failed to hold down a regular first-team place under Brendan Rodgers and was expected to leave the club in January.

After starting six of Liverpool's last seven games in all competitions though Downing is not willing to write off his time on Merseyside just yet.

"The manager has said I can leave if I want to,'' Downing told Liverpool's matchday programme.

"But then all of a sudden I've come back into the team, it's a strange situation. I've played for a long time and there are spells when you can be in and out of the side. At the minute I'm trying to play as many games as possible.

"If that doesn't happen I'm at an age where I can't be sat around. I need to play and the manager understands that. That's how the situation is and we'll have to see what happens in January or the summer."